Incumbent Ivory Coast President Gbagbo demanded that foreign peacekeepers leave the country

Incumbent
Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo had earlier demanded
that all foreign peacekeepers leave the country. His spokesperson
accused UN and French troops of colluding with former rebels.

UN
troops in Ivory Coast

Meanwhile, six armed men wearing military uniforms and
traveling in a civilian vehicle opened fire on U.N. peacekeepers
in Sebroko overnight Friday, according to a statement
Saturday on the peacekeeping operation's website. The
U.N. troops returned fire. There were no reports of injuries.

The UN and major powers have recognised Mr Gbagbo's rival,
Alassane Ouattara, as the winner of the 28 November poll.
Mr Gbagbo insists he has won.

Mr Ouattara is currently under UN protection at a hotel
in Abidjan.

In a statement read out on national television on Saturday,
government spokeswoman Jacqueline Oble said Mr Gbagbo
had "requested the immediate departure of the Unoci
[UN mission] and the French forces supporting it".

The UN force, she added, had "interfered seriously
in the internal affairs of Ivory Coast".

Mr Ban responded with his own statement saying the UN
mission "will fulfil its mandate and will continue
to monitor and document any human rights violations, incitement
to hatred and violence, or attacks on UN peacekeepers".

Earlier, the UN said one of its patrols had come under
fire as it entered the mission compound in Abidjan, the
country's main city.